Those Who Wish Me Dead is set in the Montana wilderness and features a survival expert. We had a similar setting in the fantastic Jeremy Reiner starring thriller Wind River.
The story of a teenage boy who witnesses a murder. He is pursued by two assassins in a large forest with a forest fire rapidly spreading and closing in fast. His only chance of making it out alive rests with a survival expert.
Taylor Sheridan is also back in the director’s chair for Those Who Wish Me Dead. The film is written by Sheridan, Michael Koryta & Charles Leavitt. It is based on a novel of the same name by Michael Koryta.
Sheridan has been one of my fave writers in Hollywood for the last ten years. I have enjoyed every film that he has been a part of; Wind River, Sicario and Sicario: The Day Of The Soldado were all really impressive thrillers. And as we previously saw in Hell or High Water, the man can direct just as good as he writes.
Taylor Sheridan also co-wrote the upcoming Michael B Jordan revenge thriller Without Remorse alongside Will Staples. Without Remorse is due to be released on Amazon Prime on the 30th of April and is based on a story by Tom Clancy.
Those Who Wish Me Dead Trailer
I am looking forward to seeing Angelina Jolie in this sort of role. It seems she has been out of the game for a long time. I am glad she is back and I am sure she’s gonna be great under the direction of Sheridan.
Those Who Wish Me Dead is due for release on the 14th of May and will be released by HBOMax
I hope you enjoy the film when it is released. Make sure to check back soon for more movie news, reviews and movie & TV recommendations.
As always, thanks for reading.
Article by GG Founder/Owner/BigCheese @ Moviehooker
Troma’s, The Toxic Avenger is getting a reboot from Legendary
When you hear people complain about remakes or reboots, 90% of the time, I can’t argue, yeah, they’re pointless. But there are times when they get it right, and this, folks…is one of those times!
Peter Dinklage(The Station Agent, Game Of Thrones) has been cast as our outcast mop-wielding hero. And if that news ain’t good enough for you…Macon Blair (I Don’t Feel At Home In This World Anymore, Green Room, Blue Ruin) is attached to direct. Is there any other movie news relevant right now?. Nope.
The original cult classic tells the story a super nerd called, Melvin who is a prime target for all of the jocks and bullies that come with the high school life. That all changes when Melvin falls into some toxic waste and becomes The Toxic Avenger. His weapon of choice?…a mop!.
The Toxic Avenger is only one of the many classics to come from B-movie kings, Troma which was founded by horror treasure, Llyod Kaufman
We now have a trailer to share with you for new Nicolas Cage movie Jiu Jitsu
Nicolas Cage is part of a secret ancient order of Jiu Jitsu fighters who must come together once every 6-years to fight an alien threat that wants to destroy Earth and wipe out us good-for-nothing Earthlings.
As well as Nicolas Cage, Jiu Jitsu also has amazing ass-kicking supporting cast including Frank Grillo (Wheelman, Kingdom), Juju Chan (Wu Assassins) and Tony Jaa (Ong Bak). This may sound like the most ridiculous action sci-fi in recent years but with a cast like this, anything is possible. Also co-starring is Alain Moussi, Rick Yune & Marie Avgeropoulos.
After checking out the trailer…I have to say it exceeded expectations.
This does not look bad at all. It actually looks really enjoyable. They have definitely taken inspiration from classic sci-fi, Predator…maybe a bit too much?. The film is set in a jungle, the Alien moves through the trees using invisibility. It also looks like it used some sort of heat sensor to find its targets. Yup, that sounds like a lot of Predator to me. But still, if done right, I am so up for an updated rip-off of Predator just on the cast alone. We have some of the finest ass-kickers working today in this film.
Jiu Jitsu is directed by Dimitri Logothetis who is best known for his work on Kickboxer: Retaliation. It is written by Dimitri Logothetis and Jim McGrath. Based on a 2017 graphic novel of the same name. The graphic novel was also written by Logothetis and McGrath.
You can check out the crazy trailer below. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.
Need a new horror to look forward to?. check out the official press-release for Spiral
There is so much great stuff on Shudder these days. It took a while for their library to build up but man, they’re a horror fans dream come true. And Spiral looks to be another horror we should be looking forward to. Check out the press release and trailer below. I hope you enjoy it.
Don’t trust the neighbours in the Shudder Original SPIRAL, starring Jeffrey Bowyer-Chapman –
PREMIERES SEPTEMBER 17TH EXCLUSIVELY ON AMC’S SHUDDER
The new acclaimed queer horror from the writer of WHAT KEEPS YOU ALIVE and the producers of HARPOON, Z and STILL/BORN
Official Selection of FrightFest, Brooklyn Horror Film Festival, BFI Flare: London LGBTQ+ Film Festival
A same-sex couple move to a small town to enjoy a better quality of life, but nothing is as it seems in their new neighbourhood
Available on AMC’s horror streaming service Shudder in the US, UK, Ireland, Australia, and New Zealand September 17th
“A thrilling blend of Polanski and Peele”
SciFi Now
“Unnerving Psychological Horror at its best”
iHorror
“The most emotionally scarring, horrifyingly realistic, and intelligently conceived take on queer horror I’ve seen to date”
Wicked Horror
“Through a phenomenal performance, chilling atmosphere and a terrific script, Spiral builds an experience that is as terrifying as it is depressingly timely”
Slashfilm
Malik (Jeffrey Bowyer-Chapman, American Horror Story, Canada’s Drag Race) and Aaron (Ari Cohen, IT: CHAPTER TWO) move to a small town in search of a better environment for them and their 16-year-old daughter (Jennifer Laporte, Web of Dreams). But nothing is as it seems as something sinister lies behind the picturesque homes and welcoming faces of their new neighbours (Lochlyn Munro, CW’s Riverdale).
A horror film for the current age, SPIRAL skillfully dissects themes of ostracisation, otherness, and the cycles of societal rejection and hate, led by a breakout performance by Jeffrey Bowyer-Chapman.
With Ty Wood and Chandra West. Written by Colin Minihan (writer of the Shudder Original Z and the upcoming new URBAN LEGEND) and John Poliquin (SELFIE), directed by Kurtis David Harder (SUMMERLAND, INCONTROL).
SPIRAL is produced by Minihan, Harder, and John Poliquin for Digital Interference, the celebrated Canadian indie label behind the SXSW sensation WHAT KEEPS YOU ALIVE (released by IFC Midnight), Shudder Originals Z and STILL/BORN, and the cult-hit GRAVE ENCOUNTERS.
Spiral hits Shudder on the 17th of September. Check out the trailer below. Enjoy
End Of Press Release
I was a huge fan of What Keeps You Alive. It was a simplistic, yet highly effective female-led serial killer horror with two great performances from Hannah Emily Anderson & Brittany Allen
You can check out the Moviehooker review for What Keeps You Alive HERE.
The new darksci-fi thriller from the director of OUR HOUSE. Executive producer Vincenzo Natali (CUBE, SPLICE, IN THE TALL GRASS). Starring Julia Sarah Stone (HONEY BEE, The Killing) and Landon Liboiron (Blumhouse’s TRUTH OR DARE)
High school student Sarah (Stone) is at her lowest point yet when she runs away from home and finds herself with no one to rely on and struggling with recurring nightmares. She chances upon a university sleep study that offers the promise of safety and money and brings her an unexpected friend and confidant in the overseeing scientist Jeremy (Liboiron). But there’s something curious about proceedings, and being under observation seems to make Sarah’s disturbing dreams even worse. As the darkness begins to close in, it’s soon clear that Sarah has unknowingly become the conduit to a horrifying, new discovery…
COME TRUE is the newest feature from acclaimed Canadian filmmaker, visual effects artist and musician Anthony Scott Burns (OUR HOUSE, HOLIDAYS Father’s Day segment)
Executive produced by cult filmmaker Vincenzo Natali, director of CUBE, SPLICE and Netflix’s IN THE TALL GRASS.
A dark exploration into a world of nightmares, fears, and the monsters within, the film is a Copperheart Entertainment and Angel Entertainment production. Burns wrote, directed, and shot the film, with music by Electric Youth (DRIVE) and Pilotpriest.
Produced by Steven Hoban (GINGER SNAPS, SPLICE), Mark Smith (IN THE TALL GRASS, Darknet), Brent Kawchuck (IN THE TALL GRASS),
Co-produced by Nicholas Bechard (OUR HOUSE). Andrea Hatzinikolas, Chris Wallace, Bob Crowe, and Karyn Nolan served as executive producers, in addition to Natali.
COME TRUE will have its world premiere @ upcoming Fantasia International Film Festival.
Fantasia runs from August 20th – September 2nd digitally
As always, thanks for reading. All above information from the official Come True press-release.
Article by Gary Gamble
Founder/Owner/BigCheese @ Moviehooker
We have been impatiently waiting for the new Christopher Nolan’s movie. In december we received the first trailer and it already looked spectacular, but now, with this new one, the expectations just got higher.
No many information has been released, but in imdb you can read :
“Armed with only one word, ‘Tenet’, and fighting for the survival of the entire world, the Protagonist travels through a twilight world of international espionage, on a mission that will unfold in something beyond real time.”
A sci-fi thriller full of action, espionage, travels in time and conspiracies with a touch of Inception? Count me in!
Starring Robert Pattinson, John David Washington (Denzel Washington’s son), Elizabeth Debicki, Kenneth Branagh, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Dimple Kapadia, Clémence Poésy, Dimesh Patel and Michael Caine.
It also has Hoyte van Hoytema in the cinematography (Interstellar, Dunkirk, Ad Astra) and Ludwig Göransson in the music (Creed, Venom, Black Panther).
The Victims’ Game sort of rocked my world. It is a new Netflix Original Series from Taiwan, and, man, they so deliver the goods.
You know when you stick on a film or a series and it comes with some warnings at the start? Well, NEVER in my life have I watched ANYTHING that comes with the warning “professional assistance may be required”. My jaw dropped to the ground, I even stopped and hit rewind to see if I was imagining it. Nope, there it was “professional assistance may be required”. As you can probably guess, at that moment I was engrossed. The Victim’s Game had my full undivided attention. I do admit though, I don’t think any of the murders topped the first one…but trust me, you won’t be disappointed with what’s to come.
What Is The Victims’ Game About?
The Victims’ Game is a serial killer crime series. Primarily about a CSI with Aspergers who is looking for his missing daughter. He starts to find strange links between his daughter and a serial killer known as The Last Wish Killer. That is all I am going to tell you about the plot.
From a crime series pov, The Victims’ Game brilliantly covers every department you can think of and in great detail too; The detectives, the coroners, the media, and of course the forensic investigators.
The crimes are brutal and the production is of the highest possible quality. So far, The Victims’ Game is my favourite Asian series. In fact, it fucking wipes the floor with most American or European productions too.
There is a lot going on and it can get a little confusing at times, well, to me anyway. But when it all comes together, The Victims’ Game is a perfectly crafted crime series that will hook you from the first episode and drag you into its seedy and grotesque world.
After discovering his estranged daughter’s link to mysterious murders, a forensic detective with Asperger’s syndrome risks everything to solve the case.
As always, thanks for reading.
Words by Gary Gamble Founder/Owner/BigCheese @ Moviehooker
I am back again with another movie list of the best independent cinema currently streaming on Netflix. Let’s get to it.
BLUE RUIN
Blue Ruin is the second feature from Green Room director Jeremy Saulnier. His first feature, Murder Party (also on Netflix) was met with mixed reviews. Blue Ruin is a faultless revenge drama with a staggeringly amazing performance from Macon Blair.
I am sure most of you have caught this flick by now but if you haven’t, then please sort that out straight away. It is on Netflix now. You have no excuse!.
The film follows Dwight, a young man who’s mental health has deteriorated after the brutal murder of his parents. Dwight now lives on the streets and bothers no one. When the man who killed his parents gets released from prison, Dwight snaps and plots to get revenge.
The great thing about Blue Ruin is that it doesn’t follow the usual revenge formula. Dwight isn’t very good at all. This makes you sympathise with Macon’s performance and shines a whole different light the revenge genre.
I DON’T FEEL AT HOME IN THIS WORLD ANYMORE
Starring Melanie Lynskey and Elijah Wood. I Don’t Feel At Home In This World Anymore is the directorial debut from Blue Ruin star Macon Blair.
The film focuses on Ruth. A gentle and caring soul that is trying her hardest to be nice to people and help in whatever way she can. She tries, but the world keeps shitting on her. She finally snaps when she gets home from a tiring shift at a care home to find that her apartment has been robbed. Among the stolen items were her grandmother’s cherished silverware that was left to her after she passed.
With the help of her nerdy ninja-star throwing neighbour, Tony, the two set out to find the people responsible.
BAD DAY FOR THE CUT
Set in Northern Ireland, Bad Day For The Cut tells the story of a farmer on a path of vengeance to find out who murdered his mother.
Both funny and violent, Bad Day For The Cut is a fantastic revenge comedy drenched in Irish humour. Being set in Northern Ireland we get treated to something that really ain’t touched on in Irish cinema.
The result? turns out the Irish can do revenge cinema just as well as any other part of the world.
TRASH FIRE
Trash Fire was a pleasant surprise. This may not be for everyone as it is pretty fucking dark. I would advise you to just watch it and not read anything other than the Netflix synopsis…if even that!
I have no idea how this one slipped past me but I am so glad I found it. Its stars Adrian Grenier and Angela Trimbu. It is about a couple who go to visit some estranged family years after a horrible fire tore them apart and destroyed everything.
When they arrive at the family home, it becomes evident why they have been apart for years. The grandmother is straight-up like the grandmother from Flowers In The Attic– man, I don’t think I have encountered such a horrible bitch like this in film in quite a while. Apart from the grandmother,
THUNDER ROAD
Written, directed and starring Jim Cummings. Thunder Road was an unusual one. It is a nice blend of family drama and dark humour. The film is based on a one-take short of the same name that was released in 2016 and co-stars Macon Blair.
The film opens with our lead character trying to give a eulogy at his mother’s funeral. Nothing goes according to plan and it is an absolute disaster. He wants to play the Bruce Springsteen song, Thunder Road because his mother used to sing it often. After the cd player malfunctions, we bear witness to something so cringe it would make Michael Scott look like a genius.
An oddball comedy with unusual dry humour. this may not be suited to everyone but if you’re as odd as me, you will find a lot of love for Thunder Road.
GOOD TIME
The title Good Time is a reference to being let out of prison early on good behaviour. Robert Pattinson plays Connie, a dodgy con-man who is just fresh out of jail and trying to look after his brother who has learning disabilities.
Although Connie seems to have the best intentions, himself and his brother get caught up in a ridiculous bank robbery. Connie was able to escape but his brother was captured by the authorities. Riddled with guilt, Connie must try and raise money to try and fix his mistakes and get his brother out of trouble.
Robert Pattinson stars in the lead role. He contacted the directors after seeing a movie poster for a previous movie they shot because of that poster. The part in Good Time was written for Pattinson which helped the directors break into the mainstream indie circle.
The Safdie Brother’s then went on to write and direct one of the most talked-about films in years, Uncut Gems. So, you can all thank Robert Pattinson for this, without his support who know where the Safdie Bros would be today.
MESSAGE FROM THE KING
Directed by the fantastic Fabrice du Welz who gave us the amazing Calvaire and starring Chadwick Boseman (Black Panther). Message From The King is a gritty thriller set in LA.
A strange man from South Africa arrives on the streets of L.A armed with a bike chain looking for his missing sister.
I am pretty sure this is Fabrice Du Welz’s English directorial debut. Message From The King is a superb revenge thriller proving that Boseman can handle the indie film world just as well as he can handle the Marvel Universe.
WHEELMAN
This Netflix Original stars Frank Grillo. This may not be a movie for everyone but I found a lot top enjoy about Wheelman. IMO, Frank Grillo is so underused in movies, so it really good to see him in the leading role.
like the Stephen Knight movie, Locke starring Tom Hardy, most of Wheelman takes place inside of a car.
An ex-con, known only as Wheelman has no choice but to take a job as a driver for a botched bank heist.
YOU WERE NEVER REALLY HERE
You Were Never Really Here is the latest film from one of my favourite directors, Lynne Ramsey. Everything that woman has released has been gut-wrenchingly solid independent cinema and this film continues her flawless achievement as a filmmaker.
With an astounding OST from Radiohead’s Jonny Greenwood, You Were Never Really Here follows an ex-veteran turned hitman that rescues young girls from sex traffickers using brutal and necessary force.
Joe is hired to track down the kidnapped daughter of a politician which ignites his past trauma dealing with his own childhood abuse.
Based on a novella of the same name by Jonathan Ames
So, that is it for this list anyway. There is still plenty more awesome indie cinema on Netflix but I think that is enough writing for one day. I hope you found something to enjoy. Make sure to check back soon for more great lists to watch during the shit-storm pandemic lockdown!.
Stay safe. As always, thanks for reading.
Words by Gary Gamble
Founder/Owner/BigCheese @ Moviehooker
Next up as part of our Fantasia Film Festival coverage is the new South Korean serial killer flick, The Gangster, The Cop & The Devil.
A serial killer is stalking the streets and picking his victims randomly. His method usually involves driving into the back of a moving car forcing the driver to exit that vehicle. When the clueless, unsuspecting driver approaches, he/she is then killed in a frenzied and vicious knife attack.
Wanting a bit of peace and quiet, gang boss, Jang decides he wants to drive home by himself. He is then attacked by the serial killer but manages to fight him off with some of his speciality powerhouse bitch-slaps (and wow man, there’s more than ever in The Gangster, The Cop & The Devil).
So, Jang is the only person to ever escape with his life. He is the only witness in a serial murder case. This forces the head of Violent Crimes Unit to team up with the crime boss to track down the serial killer. If the gangster finds him first, he’s allowed to carry out his unlawful punishment; and if the cop finds him first, he gets to bring him to justice. The race is on.
All I can say is WOW, I absolutely loved this film. I can actually say that The Gangster, The Cop & The Devil is the return of the dark and violent serial killer films that we love, the ones South Korea used to do so well.
Just like the magnificent, I Saw The Devil, the serial killer in The Gangster, The Cop & The Devil, well and truly fucked with the wrong person.
Imagine being a serial killer and accidentally randomly attacking the head of a crime syndicate? Jang has a lot of back-up and muscle. This brings something really fresh to the serial killer sub-genre. Something I think you’re gonna love.
Fans of South Korean serial killer movies will be delighted to see something that has a little bit of all the classics that we loved. Also adding in a fresh new take on how to track down the serial killer. This, with countless bitch-slaps and swollen beat-to-shit heads, The Gangster, The Cop & The Devil is a welcomed edition into a sub-genre that needed a good kick up the ass…or maybe it was just a bitchslap?
RUN TIME 110 mins RATING Not Rated RELEASE DATE June 7, 2019 DIRECTED BY Won-tae Lee STARRING Don Lee (aka. MA Dong-seok), KIM Moo-yul, KIM Sung-kyu
I’m sure I’ve said this in many an article: Fantasia Film Festival rounds-up every film I’ve written about over the past year and puts them all into one great festival. They’ve got spectacular taste in picking the best genre-orientated movies. To me, it is the true birthplace of independent cinema. Not only that, their appreciation of dark Asian cinema is something we rarely see at any festival. That is why it is only fair to start off this year’s coverage with Lee Su-jin’s IDOL.
Previous information I had was telling me that Idol took us back to when South Korean Revenge Cinema was at its most brutal and finest. After watching it, I don’t think that was an accurate way of marketing the film.
Ok, this was not gonna be the revenge film I was hoping for. Regardless of my previous hopes for the movie, this was still damn fine filmmaking.
I would describe Idol as a dark political thriller with an underlying pulse that deals with Immigration. I found comparisons to The Yellow Sea. Not that they’re any similarities in the storyline. They’re both dark thrillers that deal with immigration between China and Korea. Idol and The Yellow Sea would make a fantastic double-bill.
Idol opens with a very disturbing narrative.
Those of you not used to the nature of Korean cinema, the opening words would guarantee to turn the normal cinema goer away. In fact, the opening words would probably put 99% of cinema-goers off of the movie. As for the other 1%, well, that’s you, and that is why you’re still reading.
After returning home from a work trip, Councilor Koo arrives home to find his wife cleaning bloodstains off of their son’s car. The son was involved in a hit-and-run and is showing little remorse. The actions of the councilman and his wife that night start off an unpredictable chain of events between two families.
A dark, bloody political drama with two flawless lead performances. Not as hardcore as some would hope. Nonetheless Idol a great piece of work.
I would also like to advise NOT reading the official synopsis. Maybe it’s only me, but I think it gave away too much of the story. The less you know, the better.
Idol stars: Chun Woo-hee Sul Kyung-gu & Han Seok-kyu Directed/Written by Lee Su-jin. This marks Su-jin’s second feature with the first being bleak rape drama Han Gong-ju (2013)
As always, thanks for reading. More Fantasia Film Festival coverage on the way with our review for the new South Korean serial killer flick, The Gangster, The Cop & The Devil.
Words by Gary Gamble Founder/Owner/BigCheese @ Moviehooker
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